Credit: Twitter
Nearly a month after he grabbed and kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the celebrations of Spain's triumph in the Women's World Cup, Luis Rubiales has resigned as the head of the country's football organisation. Rubiales downpla yed the controversy around the uninvited kiss after Spain's 1-0 victory over England in Sydney. He called those who criticised him "idiots and stupid people" as the incident sparked uproar.
From a TalkTV interview with Rubiales, Pi ers Morgan published a clip on Sunday night in which Rubiales announced his resignation. In the clip, Rubiales stated, “I cannot continue my work. My father, my daughters, I spoke with them. They know it is not a question about me; some friends are very close to me, and they say to me: Luis, now you have to focus on your dignity and continue your life. Probably you are going to damage people you love.”
Rubiales also stated that he does not want to damage Spanish football because of a disproportionate campaign. He believes his resignation would help bring stability to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco’s joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Watch the video here:
In the aftermath of his actions, On Wednesday, after Hermoso lodged a criminal complaint against Rubiales, the pressure on him grew. The prosecutor's office promised to handle Hermoso's earlier-given testimony "as soon as possible". If proven guilty of sexual assault under a recently approved sexual consent statute, Rubiales might be subjected to a fine or a sentence of one to four years in jail.
